ZBS in trouble: workers threaten strike

Workers at private owned Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) have threatened to down tools following grievances that they have over working conditions.

A statement seen by Malawi24 and signed by Frank Ziba who is chairman of the workers at the station has disclosed that members of staff at the institution will down tools from 4 September if their grievances are not addressed.

Zodiak workers threatens to conduct a strike.

According to the statement, workers at ZBS have grievances over their salaries which have not been raised over two years.

The workers have also accused ZBS management of stealing from them by deducting money from their salaries for their pension although they do not deposit the same with NICO which manages the pension scheme.

“On the pension issue Zodiak since it joined it hasn’t been remitting our pension funds to NICO according to the statements that we received its show that Zodiak only paid the funds for a few months only, so we took up the issue with management to resolve the issue but there has not been any positive response from management,” reads a part of the statement.

The statement has further given the broadcaster an ultimatum to address all their grievances or risk a sit-in.

Below is the statement and publish it verbatim:

Dear colleagues

As you are aware for over three years now, we have been raising to management our concerns through our ZBS union representatives as well as the secretariat. To show our commitment and dedication for the Company, we have listened, accepted and waited patiently for management to implement some of the things like pensions. On the other hand we have responsibly accepted and agreed to management’s response that it was not able to effect some salary increment in the past 2 years due to difficult financial situation in those years.

In the last meeting that executive members had with the general manager they were told that management is trying to harmonize the salary structure and that it will be complete by the month of June and come end July we are going to receive new salaries, of which hasn’t been the case. And sadly there hasn’t been any communication from management on what has happened to the harmonization, the salary increment. The current situation has left many employees dire that it is leading into demotivation.

On the pension issue Zodiak since it joined it hasn’t been remitting our pension funds to NICO according to the statements that we received its show that Zodiak only paid the funds for a few months only, so we took up the issue with management to resolve the issue but there has not been any positive response from management.

Apart from Zodiak not remitting the funds there are also some arrears on names of members and age of members, even though Zodiak paid for a few months at NICO, the money that was reflected on the statements is not what was been deducted on our salaries which actually show that something is not right.

It is from this background that on 20th July, 2017, employees held a general meeting where a range of issues including the pension remittance, salary increments were discussed and at the end the meeting made the following resolutions for management’s urgent action;

That our pension statements recently received have several anomalies and that they be corrected and provide us with the updated ones by end of August, 2017.

That all non-remitted pension contributions be remitted by end August, 2017.

That proper organizational structure or organogram of the company be put in place ( as the exercise started long time ago but is yet to be concluded)

That employees of the same grade and position have equal benefits ( as some are not enjoying some benefits that fellow workmates of the same grade and post are given)

That employees who have worked for 12 months or more should be confirmed as per our conditions of service as well as labour laws of the land.

That management should implement a salary review as we have already stayed for over two years without any.

If management does not meet the above stated concerns by end August, we members of staff will sit in for a strike starting on 4th September 2017 until our demands are fulfilled.

For this strike to be effective we want many names as possible to take part in this activity, whether you are in districts you can still take part in this activity even if you are not a member you can easily become one. this will not only benefit members but also those that are non members.

Meanwhile according to Malawi Voice sources: Apart from Zodiak not remitting the funds there are also some errors on names of members and age of members, even though Zodiak paid for a few months at NICO, the money that was reflected on the statements is not what was been deducted on our salaries which actually show that something is not right.

It is from this background that on 20th July, 2017, employees held a general meeting where a range of issues including the pension remittance, salary increments were discussed and at the end the meeting made the following resolutions for management’s urgent action;

That our pension statements recently received have several anomalies and that they be corrected and provide us with the updated ones by end of August, 2017.

That all non-remitted pension contributions be remitted by end August, 2017.

That proper organizational structure or organogram of the company be put in place ( as the exercise started long time ago but is yet to be concluded)

That employees of the same grade and position have equal benefits ( as some are not enjoying some benefits that fellow workmates of the same grade and post are given)

That employees who have worked for 12 months or more should be confirmed as per our conditions of service as well as labour laws of the land.

That management should implement a salary review as we have already stayed for over two years without any.

If management does not meet the above stated concerns by end August, we members of staff will sit in for a strike starting on 4th September 2017 until our demands are fulfilled.

For this strike to be effective we want many names as possible to take part in this activity, whether you are in districts you can still take part in this activity even if you are not a member you can easily become one. this will not only benefit members but also those that are non members.

what you are saying was Bingu,s way of solving issues, it wont work. zodiak was on record long time ago about poor packages to its employees, so am not surprised to see them protesting for their own good,

Is there any Peter’s way of solving issues? Bringing this matter on social media won’t increase their packages. Sometimes we make noise on matters that we are not suppose to. To run such an institution must be proper management in every corner. So if someone is unhappy let him/her go to MBC .

Money will never be enough at all! What all we need is a starter then go out there make our legacy! We are in economical problem worldwide have you ever visited business books of your bosses? You can even tell them that this month I don’t need my package let’s boost the company. So if zodiac is wasting its employees time whose to pave way? Even in government. Go to MBC they reach to appoint of close the organization cause of what, so they must maybe try BBC and other big media houses.

Journalists why are you demanding big perks?You have forgotten that you are like Pastors there is no need for you to demand more money and for what you done ZBS will not be reliable as it was before because you will working under frustrations.

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk it seems like this evenning is an interesting one. So even in Jerusalem misunderstandings will still be there, If they are overworking then they have to be overpaid! Achbridge House, whats wrong?

Private sector has alot of problems and working conditions exepecially salaries are very low but no one talk about it:THÉ ONLY DEVIL MALAWIANS KNOW IS MR PRESIDENT THAT HÉ IS BLAMED FOR EVERY HUMAN MISTAKE.

So how can one blame an ordnally malawian on issues to do with public administration? Don’t you think it’s a right thing to blame first citizen on lack of public adminstration? Corruption level is high in this country, who is to blame? I presume you know the right answer is the incumbent president. Be wise mr man.

This news yabweretsa manyaka ku Malawi. Who is the owner of this stupid or shameless media? And all of these pipo working there ndi mbuli or mbudz za wanthu meeeeeee stupid and stupid dont make pipo angry here. And one day i will shoot u like send ur shupid story here be aware!!

Why being too emotional and offensive? Are you commenting on this very same issue or something else? Notwistanding this being their democratic right to protest, this is not the first time we hearing about strikes. Yourr offensive comment does not add up. Fake news !! Others may argue so, but this does not justfy your comment. Ever heard of hate speech? That is exactly what you are doing. Speak convincingly and learn to argue as an adult, though i do not know how old you are. But from the look of your comment, i have my reservations about you maturity.

I have online for a long time now but I never seen the fake news paper which stand in Malawi like M24. Ask ur friend SA24 and France24. Am so proud reading and watchining videos but for u admin from M24 u just post a news without umboni/eyewitness. So plz learn urself first to avoid xeno online. I like to compare the news online sometimes if u knw this is not ryt dont post yebo. But if u continue man I will never we need truth not maboza chonde iwe admin. I rest my case.

Fake news. U want to turnish the image of Zodiak .this radio station is more popular than MBC. It took over from MBC after Malawians lost hope in MBC.MBC is now a presidential diary.APM and Nicholas Dausi .let them sort out their own problems. Where there are 3 or 5 that does happen .

youre comparing radio stations, and you proved that zodiak is better of, that means banja la chitsanso simumachitika mabvuto. zodiak employees are human being too, they might lack something of which if employers has not responded to for long period, they are free to protest, this doesnt make them look cheap as MBC no, as the way you put it in your statement

So you want Zodiak to start broadcasting untrue stories like MBC? Ask yourself “why Zodiak radio has been the best electronic media house of the year for ten (10) consecutive years?” kuyambila lelo uzimvela nkhani zapa Zodiak radio